Pneumatic gin-feeder.



W/ TNESQES;

PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. J. W. SEIFERT.

PNEUMATIC GIN FEEDER.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 9,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. a H

No. 804,888. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. J. W. SEIFERT.

PNEUMATIC GIN FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

Altar/1e PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905;

J. W. SEIFERT.

PNEUMATIC GIN FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. UNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

JOHN W. SEIFERT, OF PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA.

PNEUMATIC GIN-FEEDER.

No. so4,sss.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905-.

Application filed August 9. 1904. Serial No. 220,130.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. SEIFERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Prattville, in the county of Autauga, State of Alabama, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Gin-Feeders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a pneumatic ginfeeder, and particularly to a structure for elevating, cleaning, and feeding seed-cotton to gins.

- The invention has for an object to provide a construction whereby the screening-rollers and picker-rolls are spaced from each other and intermediate thereof feed-rollers are disposed in air-tight contact, so as to form a suction-chamber in the upper portion of the cas ing and a delivery-chamber below said rollers, within which the picker-roll operates, thus providing a machine occupying the minimum of space and having a continuous suction-feed by which the cotton is twice cleaned and the use of the ordinary trip-valve, switch, or release-valve for the purpose of releasing the cotton from the suction entirely obviated. The invention also dispenses with the necessity of using a canvas or flexible valve, as in many instances, to retain the cotton until the amount collected is suflicient to be released by an air-cut-off valve, and the cleaning action is performed entirely within the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of the gearing for driving the several movable parts of the device and for permitting a movement of the feed-rollers toward and from each other while under operation.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the machine on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the gearing. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the opposite end of the machine. Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig.3, and Fig. 6 is an elevation showing the-arrangement of a plurality of the feeders.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The letter A designates a casing or inclosure different lots thereof.

of any suitable material, preferably metal, and is connected at its top or upper portion with a cotton-feed pipe A which is provided with a communicating opening A which communicates with the throat A of the feeder. The endof the cotton-pipe A is provided with the usual suction-feed connection at A, as shown at the broken-away portion in Fig. 6. The casing also communicates at one end A with a suction-pipe A, connected to each of the feeders in a series thereof and extending to a suction-fan A driven in any suitable manner, as indicated in Fig. 6. The casing is provided at the opposite side from the suctionpipe A with a delivery-trough A, pivotally mounted at A so as to be vertically adjustable to different characters of gins for feeding the cotton from the easing into the gin, Figs. 1 and 4. The cotton-pipe A may, if desired, be provided with a suitable glazed or transparent aperture A' for the inspection of the contents thereof, and similar windows or openings may be located at any desired part of the casing, as indicated at A opposite a drum.

The throat A has disposed at one side thereof a cut-off valve B, pivotally mounted at B beneath the cotton-pipe A, so as to shut off the feed of material when the feeder is out of use. For the purpose of operating this valve an arm B is provided, and an operating-handle B extends therefrom to a convenient position for the operator. Beneath the cut-off valve B a screen-valve C, formed in two parts pivotally mounted at opposite sides of the throat A is provided for the purpose of temporarily stopping the feed of cotton to the screening-drums as, for instance, between The pivots C of the screen-valves are each provided with a--segmental gear C meshing with each other and operated .in unison by means of an arm C and operating-handle (3*. At the delivery from the throat A the oppositely-disposed screendrums D are rotatably mounted, each being disposed beneath a partition D, which is provided with a wiper D contacting with the drum, so as to secure air-tight contact at the upper portion thereof, while within each of the drums is a shield or cut-0E plate D to prevent the suction action at the lower part of the drum,and thus release the cotton carried by the drum directly above the feed rollers E. These shields D extend concentric with the face of the drum D and are pivotally mounted upon inwardly-extending stub-shafts D*, so as to IIO leave the interior of the frame free from obstruction to receive the full suction action where the end of the drum communicates with the pipe A which surrounds the openings A The space between the two suction-drums is suitably closed by a plate D, so that the dust and dirt carried by the cotton is effectually removed by the suction through the drums and carried to the fan, while the cotton adhering to the surface of the drum is discharged as the drum passes over the surface of the shield D Beneath the outer portion of each of the drums is a horizontally-disposed partition D, which acts as a baffle-plate'to prevent any suction action at this point which would disturb the feed of material in the lower part of the casing.

with each other and preventing the escape of air between the same, while they are normally held at each end under tension in such contact by means of the spring E", extending from Y the journal of one of the rolls to that of the opposite roll. At the outer side of each roll a pivotally-mounted arm E is mounted in airtight relation to the casing and provided with a follow-board E contacting with the surface of the roll to insure an air-tight contact therewith. For the purpose of effecting an airtight connection at the opposite ends of each roll any suitable packing may be used. For instance, a ring E of canvas or other flexible material, may be:mounted upon the end of the roll to bear against the casing.

Beneath the feed-rollers E and removed from the suction action is the picker-roll F, having the shaft F pivotally mounted in the casing and provided with the teeth F of any desired character. This roll is adapted to cooperate with the concentrically-disposed screen F which is pivotally mounted in the casing at F*, so that it may be swung away from the roll for the purpose of clearing the same from clogging material or for other access to the parts, such access being conveniently had through the door F at the rear of the casing, while the material discharged through the screen is conveyed from the apparatus by means of the independently-d riven feed-screw F, disposed at the lower portion of the back of the casing, as shown in Fig. 1.

It has been found very desirable to provide a signal or alarm for indicating when the feed rolls return to their contact with each other in order to indicate the finish of theoperation upon any particular quantity of material or that owned by any party, while when the cotton is between the rolls no signal is made.

when the rolls again approach eachother as the machine is emptied the wheel engages the striker to operate the signal.

For the purpose of driving the several parts hereinbefore described a driving-pulley G is provided upon the shaft of the picker-roller F and adapted to be driven from any shitable source of power. The opposite end of this roller is provided with a friction driving-plate G, of any preferred material, against which a friction-wheel G is normally held by means of a collar G slidably mounted upon the free end of the shaft F and under tension of a spring G secured to the collar and casing, as shown in Fig. 5. For the purpose of throwing the parts out of operation a shifting-lever G is pivotally mounted upon a lug G carried upon the casting G secured tothe casing of the machine and bearing at its inner end upon the collar, so as to shift the same away from the friction-surface G, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The shaft H, to which the driving-wheel G is slidingly keyed, is mounted at one end in the collar G and at its oppoisite end passes through a swivel-bearing H and is provided with a worm H The shaft H is free to rotate within this bearing, and the pivots of the bearing are mounted in a bracket H carried by the casing. A movement of the friction-disk or driving-wheel Gr toward or from the shaft of the picker-roll varies the speed of rotation of the shaft H. For the purpose of retaining the wheel in its adjusted position a collar H is secured to the wheel and embraced by a yoke H said yoke having a toothed rack-bar H extending therefrom and engaging a latching projection H carried by a fixed part. The screendrums are driven by means of a worm-gear I, engaging the Worm H and provided upon its shaft with a pinion l, meshing with the gear 1 which gearis in mesh with its associate 1 so as to rotate toward each other. The shaft of each of these gears is provided with asprocket-wheel I, from which a chain 1 extends to a similar smaller sprocket 1, carried upon one end of each of the feed-rolls. The feed-rolls are thus driven at their proper relative speed and are alsofree for movement toward and from each other. r

In theoperation of the invention the suction from the fan A, Fig. 6, draws the cot this path by the suction which passes through the drums of each feeder. The drums in IIO their rotation toward each other pass over the shields in their lower portion, thus cutting off the suction from the cleaned cotton, and it is dropped upon the air-tight feed-rollers E, which are normally held in contact with each other, as before described, and by their rotation feed the cotton between the same anddischarge it upon the upper surface of the picker-roll F. From thence it passes over the concentric screen at one side thereof, so I its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure I by Letters Patent, is

that sticks and other foreign matter are removed from the cotton before its delivery to the gin. The feed-rollers are provided with springs at each end, so that they may open or separate in other than parallel lines. For instance, when there is a larger feed at one end of the machine than the other that end of the rollers will separate to the greatest extent; but they are normally drawn toward each other and form with the cotton an air-tight closure in the lower portion of the suction-chamber, and thus remove from suction the picker-roll and screen, upon which the hat of clean cotton formed by the feed-rollers is discharged and is quickly and thoroughly picked in' its further passage through the machine. The cut-off valve B is only used when it is desired to place the machine out of operation, while the screen-valve C below the same may be opened and closed without interfering with the suction through the machine and is adapted to hold back one body or lot of cotton until the succeeding one has passed from the machine, which is indicated by the signal device described in connection with the feedrollers. At that time these valves are opened and the operation upon the cotton supported thereby immediately begins.

It will be observed that the throat above the screening drums extends beyond the ends thereof and is there provided with a downwardly-inclined ledge for the purpose of feeding a greater amount of cotton to the ends of the drums. The suction connection with each of these drums is made at the end thereof next to the elevator for the feedpipethat is, the suction through the drums extends in an opposite direction to the feed of cotton through the pipe A'the result of which is to secure an even layer of cotton upon the drums and permit the most effective cleaning action. The cotton under the suction-pressure as it is drawn through the feed -.pipe is naturally thrown toward the left end of the drum, as shown in Fig. 2, while the connection of the suction at the opposite end counteracts this effect and secures an even delivery. The gearing disclosed provides for a continued operation of the drums and other parts which can be readily controlled as to speed or cut off whenever found desirable or necessary, while the application of the air-tight feedrollers beneath the feed-drum insures a continuous suction feed to the picker-roll and the the other parts of the mechanism and prevents an updraft to disturb the cotton.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Having described my invention and set forth 1 In a gin-feeder, acasing, screening means therein, means for creating an air-feed therethrough, feed-rollers beneath the screenlng -means disposed in contact with each other,

follow-boards mounted in the casing between the outer faces of the rollers and the adjacent casing to effect air-tight contact, with said rollers, and means for permitting a movement of said rollers toward and from each other.

2. In agin-feeder, acasing, screening means therein, means for creating an air-feed therethrough, feed-rollers beneath the screening means disposed in contact with each other, pivoted follow-boards mounted in said casing to effect air-tight contact with said rollers at their free-ends, and means for permitting a movement of said rollers toward and from each other.

3. In a gin-feeder, a casing, screening means therein,'means for creating an air-feed therecasing and with each other, a screen and pickerroll disposed beneath the feed rollers, and means carried by the screening means for preventing an air-pressure through the lower portion thereof.

4.. In a gin-feeder, acasing, oppositely-disposed screening-drums located therein, a suction-fan connected with the interior of said drums, a shield disposed at the lower portion of said drums to cutoff the air therethrough, and feed-rollers beneath the drums held under tension in contact with each other.

5. In a gin-feeder, a casing, oppositely-disposed screening-drums located therein, asuction-fan connected with the interior of said drums, a shield disposed at the lower portion of said drums to cut off the air therethrough, feed-rollers beneath the drums held under tension in contact with each other, and a pickerroll and cooperating screen disposed beneath the feed-rollers.

6. In a gin-feeder, a casing, oppositely-disposed screening-drums located therein, asuction-fan connected with the interior of said drums, a shield disposed at the lower portion of said drums to cut off the air therethrough, feed-rollers beneath the drums held under tension in contact with each other, a picker-roll and cooperating screen disposed beneath the feed-rollers, pivoted arms at the opposite sides of the feeding-rollers having follow-boards in contact therewith, and end packing for each of said rollers.

7. In a gin-feeder, a casing, oppositely-disposed screening-drums located therein, a suction-fan connected with the interior of said drums, a shield disposed at the lower portion of said drums to cut off the air therethrough, feed-rollers beneath the drums held under tension in contact with each other, a picker-roll and cooperating screen disposed beneath the feed-rollers, pivoted arms at the opposite sides of the feeding-rollers having follow-boards in contact therewith, end packing for each of said rollers, a partition extending partially beneath the screening-drums, and a wiper disposed above said drums-in contact with the surface thereof.

8. In a gin-feeder, a casing, oppositely-disposed screening-drums located therein, asuction-fan connected with the interior of said drums, a shield disposed at the lower portion of said drums to cut off the air therethrough, feed-rollers beneath the drums held under tension in contact with each other, a picker-roll and cooperating screen disposed beneath the feed-rollers, pivoted arms at the opposite sides of the feeding-rollers having follow-boards in contact therewith, end packing for each of said rollers, a partition extending partially beneath the screening-drums, a wiper disposed above said drums in contact with the surface thereof, a pivotal mounting for one end of the pickerroll screen, and an adjustable delivery-spout disposed at the opposite end of said screen.

9. In a gin-feeder, a casing, oppositely-disposed screening-drums located therein, asuction-fan connected with the interior of said drums, a shield disposed at the lower portion of said drums to cut off the air therethrough, feed-rollers beneath the drums held under tension in contact with each other, a picker-roll and cooperating screen disposed beneath the feed-rollers, pivoted arms at the opposite sides said drums in contact with the surface thereof,

a pivotal mounting for one end of the pickerroll screen, an adjustable delivery-spout disposed at the opposite end of said screen, a feed-pipe, and ascreen-valve disposed between the feed-pipe and said drums.

10. In a gin-feeder, a casing, oppositely-disposed screening-drums located therein, a suction-fan connected with the interior of said drums, a shield disposed at the lower portion of said drums to cut off the air therethrough, feed-rollers beneath the drums held under tension in contact with each other, a picker-roll and cooperating screen disposed beneath the feed-rollers, pivoted arms at the opposite sides of the feeding-rollers having follow-boards in contact therewith, end packing for each of said rollers, a partition extending partially beneath the screening-drums, a wiper disposed above said drums in contact with the surface thereof, a pivotal mounting for one end of the pickerroll screen, an adjustable delivery-spout disposed at the opposite end of said screen, a

feed-pipe, a screen-valve disposed between the feed-pipe and said drums, and a cut-off valve at the delivery-opening of said feed-pipe.

11. In a gin-feeder, a casing provided with a throat, a suction feed-pipe communicating with the upper end of said throat, screening devices disposed at the lower end thereof, a suction-fan connected at one end of said devices to effect an air-current therethrough in a direction opposite to the feed of material through the feed-pipe, and means for releasing material from said screening devices.

12. In a gin-feeder, acasing provided with a throat, a suction feed-pipe communicating with the upper end of said throat, screening drums disposed at the lower end thereof, a suction-fan connected at one end of said drums to effect an air current therethrough in a direction opposite to the feed of material through the feed-pipe, a screen-valve having members pivotally mounted at opposite sides of said throat, meshing segmental gears carried by each of said members, and a cooperating lever extending from the axis of one of said gears.

13. In a gin-feeder, a casing provided with a throat, a suction feed-pipe communicating with the upper end of said throat, screeningdrums disposed at the lower end thereof, a suction-fan connected at one end of said drums to effect an air-current therethrough in a direction opposite to the feed of material through the feed-pipe, a screen-valve having members pivotally mounted at opposite sides of said throat, meshing segmental gears carried by each of said members, a cooperating lever extending from the axis of one of said gears, a cut-off valve pivotally mounted below the discharge-opening from said feedpipe, and an operating-handle extending to the pivot of said valve.

14:. In a gin-feeder, a casing, a feed-pipe at the upper portion thereof, a throat extending downwardly from said feed-pipe, screeningdrums at opposite sides of said throat, feedrollers beneath said drums and in alinement with said throat, means for driving said drums and rollers, means for permitting an oscillation of'the shafts of said rollers concentric to the axis of said drums, a sight-opening in said feed-pipe, a sight-opening in said casing opposite one of the screening drums, and means adjacent to said feed-rollers for efiecting an air-tight connection between the rollers and adjacent casing.

15. In a gin-feeder, a casing, a feed-pipe at the upper portion thereof, a throat extending downwardly from said feed-pipe, screeningdrums at opposite sides of said throat, feedrollers beneath said drums and in alinement with said throat, means for driving said drums and rollers, means for permitting an oscillation of the shafts of said rollers concentric to the axis of said drums, a sight-opening in said feed-pipe, a sight-opening in said casing opposite one of the screening-drums, means adjacent to said feed-rollers for effecting an airtight connection between the rollers and adjacent casing, a picker-roll beneath said feedrollers, a screen mounted concentric to one side of said picker-roll, a discharge-chamber beneath said screen, a conveyer connected with the lower portion of said chamber, and a door at one side of said chamber in alinement with said screen.

16. In a gin-feeder, a casing, screeningdrums, feed-rollers, and picker-roll disposed therein, a friction-face secured to one end of the picker-roll, a driving-wheel having its shaft at an angle to the shaft of the pickerroll, a bearing for the lower end of said shaft slidaloly mounted upon the shaft of the pickerroll, means for forcing said bearing and driving-wheel toward the picker-roll, means for shifting them therefrom, and means for actuating the drums and feed-rollers from the driving-wheel shaft.

17. In a gin-feeder, a casing, screeningdrums, feed-rollers, and picker-roll disposed therein, a friction-face secured to one end of the picker-roll, a driving-wheel having its shaft at an angle to the shaft of the pickerroll, a bearing for the lower end of said shaft slidably mounted upon the shaft of the pickerroll, means for drawing said bearing and driving-wheel toward the picker-roll, means for shifting them therefrom, means for actuating the drums and feed-rollers from the drivingwheel shaft, a swiveled bearing for the outer end of said shaft, and means for shifting and retaining said drive-wheel longitudinally upon 7 the shaft.

18. In a gin-feeder, a casing, screeningdrums, feed-rollers, and picker-roll disposed therein, a friction-face secured to one end of the picker-roll, a driving-wheel having its shaft at an angle to the shaft of the pickerroll, a bearing for the lower end of said shaft slidably mounted upon the shaft of the pickerroll, means for drawing said bearing and driving-wheel toward the picker-roll, means for shifting them therefrom, a swiveled bearing for the outer end of said shaft, means for shifting and retaining said drive-wheel longitudinally upon the shaft, a worm upon the free end of said shaft, and gearing extending from said worm for driving the screeningdrums in opposite directions.

19. In a gin-feeder, a casing, screeningdrums, feed-rollers, and picker-roll disposed therein, a friction-face secured to one end of the picker-roll, a driving-wheel having its shaft at an angle to the shaft of the pickerroll, a bearing for the lower end of said shaft slidably mounted upon the shaft of the pickerroll, means for drawing said bearing and driving-wheel toward the picker-roll, means for shifting them therefrom, a swiveled bearing for the outer end of said shaft, means for shifting and retaining said drive-wheel longitudinally upon the shaft, a worm upon the free end of said shaft, gearing extending from said worm for driving the screening-drums in opposite directions, driving-gears upon the shafts of the feed-rollers, and means for driving said gears from said drums.

20. In a gin-feeder, a casing, screeningdrums, feed-rollers, and picker-roll disposed therein, a friction-face secured to one end of the picker-roll, a driving-wheel having its shaft at an angle to the shaft of the pickerroll, a bearing for the lower end of said shaft slidably mounted upon the shaft of the pickerroll, means for drawing said bearing and driving-wheeltoward the picker-roll, means for shifting them therefrom, a swiveled bearing for the outer end of said shaft, means for shifting and retaining said drive-wheel longitudinally upon theshaft, a worm upon the free end of said shaft, gearing extending from said worm for driving. the screening-drums in opposite directions, driving-gears upon the shafts of the feed-rollers, means for driving said gears from said drums, means for permitting said feed-rollers to move toward and from each other concentric to the peripheries of said drums, and a tension-spring for drawing said rolls toward each other.

21. In a gin-feeder, a casing, screeningdrums disposed therein, feed-rollers beneath said drums having their shafts at each end free to move toward and from each other, means for holding said rollers in contact with each other, and means for effecting a signal when said rollers are in contact.

22. In a gin-feeder, a casing, screeningdrums disposed therein, feed-rollers beneath said drums having their shafts at eachend free to move toward and from each other, means for holding said rollers in contact with each other, atoothed wheel carried by the shaft of one of said rollers, apivoted striker in the path of said wheel, and an audible device adapted to be contacted by said striker.

23. In a gin-feeder, a casing, screeningdrums disposed therein, feed-rollers beneath said drums having their shafts at each end free to move toward and from each other, means for holding said rollers in contact with each other, a toothed wheel carried by the shaft of one of said rollers, a pivoted striker in the path of said wheel, an audible device adapted to be contacted by said striker,sprocketwheels carried by the shaft of said feed-rollers at one end, sprockets carried by the shafts of the screening-drums, chains extending between said sprockets, and means for rotating said screening-drums toward each other.

2 1. In a gin-feeder, screening-drums, feedrollers beneath the same mounted for lateral movement toward and from each other in arcs having their centers at the axes of the drums, and means for retaining said rollers in contact under tension.

25. In a gin feeder, a casing, screening means, feed-rollers beneath the same mounted for lateral movement toward and from each other, means for retaining said rollers in contact under tension, and a packing carried by the end of said rollers to contact with said casing.

26. In a gin-feeder, a casing having a suction-chamber therein, opposite screening devices in said chamber, continuously-operating oppositefeed-rollers disposed beneath and intermediate of said devices and constructed and arranged to efiect an air-tight closure with the casing and prevent an upward draft of air therethrough, and means for releasing material from the screens for delivery to the rollers.

- 27. In a gin-feeder, a casing having a suction-chamber therein, a screening device in said chamber, continuously-operating feeding means disposed beneath said device and constructed and arranged to effect an air-tight closure beneath the screening device and prevent an upward draft of air through the casing, and means cooperating with the screening device to release material therefrom for deposit upon the feeding means.

28. In a gin-feeder, a casing having a suction-chamber therein, a screening device in said chamber, continuously-operating feeding means disposed beneath said'device and constructed and arranged to effect an air-tight closure beneath the screening device and prevent an upward draft of air through the easing, means cooperating with the screening device to release material therefrom for deposit upon the feeding means, a feed-pipe communicating with said chamber, and a suction device communicating with said screening device to maintain a continuous suction through said chamber.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. SEIFERT.

Vitnesses:

E. G. RICE, (J. W. GALsoN. 

